~ I'll Love You As If There's No Tomorrow ~

	Today was a big day for Max and Madra. It was opening day for Max's new business venture, a trendy supper club with a Mexican flair. His projects were normally huge conglomerates, not trendy supper clubs, but the owner was an old friend of his, and he could not refuse to help make his dream a reality. As a special honor, the owner wanted Madra to cut the ribbon on opening day. Afterwards, there was to be a huge private party at the club to celebrate. Madra was very excited and bought a very special silk suit just for the occasion. Max, on the other hand, was a little apprehensive. He didn't know why, but he had such an uneasy feeling about this project from the beginning. The local residents were unhappy about this supper club coming into their part of town and protested to no avail. The money that this club would infuse into the neighborhood would be a welcome relief. Too bad the residents didn't see it that way, Max thought. Max had just come back from taking the girls to Rebecca's for the day. Rebecca was watching Leila's girls as well, and decided to have a little pool party for them. The twins were ecstatic. Glynnis and the baby would be there, as well as Gene, not to mention the nannies, so there were plenty of adults around so he wasn't worried. He just couldn't shake the feeling of foreboding that kept looming over him. He went upstairs and found Madra in her dressing room getting ready. She didn't hear him come in. He looked at her with admiration. What a beautiful woman she is, he thought. What would I do without her. He knew full well that his peers were all jealous of him. A man his age with such a gorgeous young wife! But, Max knew how lucky he was. It seemed to him as if he had waited a lifetime to find her. Now that he had, he certainly aimed to keep her!
"Darling," he said, "would you help me with this damn tie! I seem to be all thumbs today." At that she turned and walked over to him. "Oh, Max, what ever will I do with you," she said coyly. She came close and started undoing his tie. Then she started undoing his shirt. "What are you doing?" he asked, "you're supposed to be doing my tie, not removing it!" "Well," she crooned as she got close and started to nuzzle his neck, "I have another idea. Besides, I don't like that shirt." He started to object, but it was futile. He could smell the sweet lavendar of her hair, and her sweet kisses on his neck was getting him aroused. "Madra......" he began and his voice trailed off.....	She pulled him even closer and it was more than he could bear. With one gentle motion, he laid her down on the chaise and began kissing her all over. She began to moan and stir beneath him. "I love you darling," he said between kisses. "Let's just stay here today and make love all day." "No, Max," she said, "this is your big day and I want to be part of it with you! I'm looking forward to this." His head began to spin, "OK, darling - whatever you say," he said as she kissed his lips.
At this point, Max was in no position to argue. All he could think of was her and how good she felt. He kissed her lips, her neck, her body - she was writhing now, and he pulled her to him. She was soft and sweet, yet oh so maddening. She made him feel the way no one ever made him feel. He never had to question her love. She showed him all the time how she felt about him, and it was no secret that he was crazy for her! She was every inch the lady, but when they were alone..... He counted his lucky stars and pulled her down on top of him. They made love as if there were no tomorrow.
	Afterwards Max tried to convince Madra that they should stay put for the day, but she wouldn't have any of it. She was determined that they would go. "After all, Max, this is your day! You did a wonderful job on that club! I'm so proud of you" she said. Max looked at her and smiled. "Darling, I build skyscrapers and multimillion dollar hotels, and for this you're proud?" he laughed. "Yes," she said, "you did something nice for a friend! That just shows what a wonderful man I married." With that she jumped up and began dressing. Max got up and got dressed. He put on the white shirt Madra wanted him to wear and she helped him with the tie. "You know, Max," she began, "I used to help my daddy with his tie when I was a young girl." She smiled at the thought of her father. Max looked at her, he knew how much she cared about the guy. Too bad he was never around for her. "Where is he now, darling," Max asked. "Oh, somewhere in Brazil, I think," she said. "He told me he's thinking of coming to visit for the holidays this year. I do hope he does." Max smiled and kissed her cheek. "Come, darling, let's go - your ribbon awaits!" And they both laughed.

~ * * * ~

They arrived at the club amid a crowd of people all curious to see the event. Max still couldn't shake that uneasy feeling he had all day. His mother would have told him to trust his instincts, but Madra was insistent that everything was ok and that he just worried too much. He got out of the limo and looked around. There were security guards and police, just as he requested. One came up to him and Max asked if everyting was secure. The police officer assured him that it was safe and he helped Madra out of the car. The Mayor was standing at the door waiting for them. When they approached, he handed Madra a huge pair of ceremonial scissors and told her she could cut the yellow ribbon around the door. They were heavy, so Max helped Madra with them. He thought she never looked more beautiful! Her face was beaming and her hair glistened in the sun. As she cut the ribbon, the crowd went wild! People were shouting and cheering, but somewhere in the background, Max could hear people yelling -- a group had appeared with signs and pickets. They weren't happy about the opening and they wanted to voice their objections. The police tried to keep everyone orderly.
	Max heard a loud noise -- like the pop of a champagne cork, but louder, and he felt Madra push into him, as she let out a gasp. He looked down in horror as he saw her start to slump into his arms. He caught her and held her and then he noticed -- a red spot on her beautiful creme silk suit -- the suit she bought just for this occasion.....the horrid red stain began to spread and he tried to put his hand over it to get it to stop. There was a flurry of activity all around him. Women were screaming, children were crying, the police was trying to clear the area...but Max was oblivious to all of it. As if in a distant fog, he heard a policeman say "I got him - I got him!" There was chaos all around - but the silence in Max's head was deafening.
He slid to the ground holding his precious wife. He sat on the hot steamy sidewalk cradling her head in one arm - with the other, he tried to stop her life blood from flowing out onto the sidewalk. It was no use -- the more he tried, the more it flowed. He called out to her and she opened her eyes briefly -- she could barely speak...he tried to keep her still, but she gasped for breath and said, "Max.......Max.....I ... love...you" before she passed out. Max looked at the love of his life - her face so pale, tears were flowing openly down his face as he said over and over, "Madra, darling....don't leave me, please, don't leave me, please...hang on. Please!" He was begging for his own life as much as hers....even the heat of the sidewalk and the sultry afternoon heat couldn't keep her warm. He body felt so cool - too cool. He felt hands on his shoulders. The paramedics had arrived. They wanted to take his his life away, for she was his life -- how could he let them.....he couldn't think. For the first time in his life he felt powerless and alone. He heard someone say, "Mr. Maxwell, please, we need to get her in the ambulance." He pulled her to him and kissed her pale cool cheek whispering in her ear, "I love you darling, don't worry, I'm here -- I'll always be here."

To be continued.......